I am offering actual travel experiences from me, and other travelers that have had similar encounters. I will also offer reviews, tips, and travel advises on more than fifty countries in the world. This is just getting started, so expect to learn more as I cover more countries. I want to travel to more countries because I am not ready to quit yet. I will tell you the good and bad about each country, so you can be sure of getting honest reviews from me.
I am very excited to announce Photography Life’s 2019 and 2020 Workshops! We will kick off this year with our upcoming Dubai and Jordan Workshop in mid-March (please see detailed information below), followed by our Fall Colors Workshop in Colorado at the end of September and wrapping up the year with the first Death Valley Workshop in late November. The 2020 schedule will start with a Death Valley Workshop in mid-January, followed by another Dubai and Jordan Workshop in March. Please note that most of our workshops fill within 24 hours of the announcement, so if you would like to reserve your spot, we recommend that you do it as soon as possible!
from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/news/photography-life-2019-and-2020-workshop-announcements
Nikon has released a new set of lens rebates on some of their most popular options, from the 24-70mm f/2.8 VR to the 85mm f/1.4 and 105mm f/2.8 macro lens. Below, we’ll cover all the discounts and which ones are the best deals.
from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/news/nikon-lens-only-discounts-on-13-lenses
Some months feel like they go by in a flash. This month was LONG. So long that I had to keep checking and making sure I didn’t miss a recap.
My weeklong trip to Mexico was undoubtedly a big part of the month, but I also got in a very busy networking week and a lot of more relaxing good times in New York as well.
Destinations Visited
New York, New York
Holbox and Mérida, Mexico
Highlights
A fantastic trip to Mexico. This trip was perfect — in some ways, it was the best trip I’ve taken in a long time. Just a week long, escaping the cold for warmth, to new destinations in a familiar country, a mix of beach and city, enjoying one of my favorite cuisines, seeing old friends and making new ones. It was perfect in its simplicity.
Holbox is one of my new favorite islands in the world. It has such a chill atmosphere, it’s easy to get to but not too developed, and Casa Sandra is one of my favorite boutique hotels ever.
Mérida was a lot of fun, too. I stayed with my friend Nathan, a.k.a. Foodie Flashpacker, and he took me to tons of great restaurants all over the city! There’s a nice little travel blogger community in Mérida these days, and I love how relaxed the city feels. I’m sure I’ll be back for more.
A fabulous IMM and New York Times Travel Show. This is one of my favorite weeks of the year because it’s when all my friends descend upon my city! I always host someone, and this year I hosted my friend Jeremy from Living the Dream and Discover the Burgh. IMM is my favorite networking event of the year, and I met with around 30 different travel brands. I’m really excited about my travel plans for 2019 — I am planning SUCH cool trips. One clue: Canada.
On industry day at the New York Times Travel Show, I spoke on The Future of Travel Media panel for the third year in a row and got a lot of nice compliments afterward.
And because all of the bloggers were in town, we had a lot of nice evenings out. Best of all was our final bloggers-only party where we could finally hang out and catch up without being pressured to network and make connections.
Cooking up a storm with my Instant Pot. My dad got me one for Christmas and I immediately became obsessed with it. So much that I almost don’t want to cook something if I can’t do it in my Instant Pot!
I’ve made Indian dishes, risotto, stews, chili, rice, hard-boiled eggs, all in the fraction of the time it takes to make something regularly. You’ve got to get one! Next up, I want to tackle some Korean recipes, a dairy-free risotto using duck fat instead of butter, and…I must admit it…mac and cheese.
An exciting time in politics. It was inspirational to see so many badass women sworn into Congress for the first time, and it’s been exciting see so many great people announce their candidacy for president in 2020. This is the first time since 2004 that I didn’t commit to a candidate immediately, so it’s nice to take my time in picking who to support. If I were a betting woman, though, I’d put my money on Kamala Harris to win the primary. I think she’s the one to beat. We’ll see how that pans out.
Enjoying living in the best city in the world. I checked out some places for the first time like Industry City (and the Avocaderia), restaurant No. 7 with its famous broccoli tacos, the Whitney and its Andy Warhol exhibit, and the Felix coffeeshop, which looks like it’s straight out of a Wes Anderson movie.
Challenges
Losing a friend. See In Memoriam at the bottom of this post for more about that. Everything else that happened this month pales in comparison.
Food poisoning. I like to say I have a cast-iron stomach — in all these years of travel, I’ve only gotten sick from food twice. Once in Cambodia and once in Thailand, both within a month of each other in 2013.
Then came Mexico, and I know exactly where I got it — a tiny restaurant at the Mexico City airport that looked terrible, but they had chilaquiles on the menu, and I REALLY wanted chilaquiles. The waiter brought them to me and they didn’t look good — they looked microwaved, and the chicken was tepid. But they were there, so I ate them. And I paid a huge price. (I know this was the place because Nathan and I ate all of the same food in the preceding 24 hours and he was fine.)
I’m just relieved the gastrointestinal purging didn’t hit until the morning after I got home, where I could deal with it in the privacy of my apartment. Thankfully it didn’t last long and I felt much better by the evening.
This month I listened to two very different podcasts — one lighthearted and one tragic. The lighthearted one is The Habitat. It tells the story of six strangers who sign up to simulate a mission to Mars by living in a tight, enclosed space on the side of a volcano in Hawaii. This podcast isn’t about the science, it’s about the sociology. The relationships formed, the bonds people made, the fights they had, and how they coped with being in each other’s faces for a full year. It’s a short, fun listen. By the fourth episode I was SO into it.
The more serious one is Broken Harts, about the Hart family. The two white mothers, their six adopted black children, and the mother who drove her entire family off a cliff last year, killing them all. The podcast delves into how this could have happened, and the intersection with race, adopting from the foster care system, being queer in less-than-welcoming regions, and how people create different versions of their life on social media. But overall, it’s an indictment on how we don’t value the lives of black children the way we value the lives of white children.
I have long been uncomfortable with violent true crime — I don’t like the idea of being entertained by the death of an innocent person. But I decided to try out this podcast on the recommendation of a friend to see if I still felt that way. The verdict? I got really into it, but I felt guilty about being into it. I’ll stick to nonviolent true crime from now on (like Slow Burn, about Nixon and Clinton’s scandals, and Last Seen, about the Gardner Museum heist).
What I Watched This Month
Um…how about those Fyre Festival documentaries?! I love a good documentary, and these ones were fascinating. I watched Hulu’s first, then Netflix’s, and both of them covered the disaster of a festival from interesting angles.
Beyond that, this month I really enjoyed Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix. It’s a sweet reality show in the same vein as Queer Eye and The Great British Bake-Off — just nice people doing interesting things. I’m reading her book now and I’m sure I’ll be doing my own KonMari purge in the next few months.
Movie-wise, If Beale Street Could Talk was one of the most beautiful-looking and beautiful-sounding movies I’ve ever seen. The whole thing was LUSH. Watch the trailer above — you’ll fall in love with it before seeing it.
I also really enjoyed Vice — especially Steve Carell’s demented depiction of Donald Rumsfeld, often breaking into Brick Tamland-esque giggles!
What I Read This Month
It’s a new year and time for a new challenge — the Book Riot #ReadHarder 2019 challenge! I like this challenge because it’s 24 books instead of 52 and it challenges you to really expand the kinds of books you read, especially from authors who don’t get enough attention. And because I’m insanely competitive with myself…I read 10 books this month.
Another delight — I finally (FINALLY!) got a New York Public Library card this month. I honestly can’t believe it took so long. But now I’m borrowing books like crazy! It’s like an invitation to read even more!
Here are the books I read this month, ranked from favorite to least favorite:
Umami by Laia Jufresa (2014) — The Belldrop Mews in Mexico City is home to several families, each of them living with grief — whether it’s the death of a younger sister, the disappearance of an ambivalent mother, or the passing of a lifelong partner. Each character muses on death and what it means for his or her own life now, and each of the characters interacts with each other in different ways.
This book is WONDERFUL — written so beautifully that I marveled at it continuously. It sounds like a bleak subject, but trust me — it’s magical and life-affirming and peaceful. Jufresa has so much compassion for each of her characters, and later in the book, the plot has a twist you’ll never predict. Just utterly, utterly wonderful from start to finish. It’s worth noting that last year I read a lot of translated books that I didn’t enjoy, and I attributed that in part to the translation, but the translation here is so lyrical you’d never guess it was originally written in Spanish. It was especially nice reading such a great book by a Mexican author while I was in Mexico. Category: an #ownvoices book set in Mexico or Central America.
Still Alice by Lisa Genova (2007) — Dr. Alice Howland is an accomplished psychology professor at Harvard, a wife, a mother, a runner, a traveler. She begins experiencing forgetfulness here and there, but then it worsens when she can’t read the word “lexicon” aloud during a presentation. And one day while out running she can’t figure out how to get home. After seeing doctors, she’s diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 50. The book is told from her point of view as she and her family cope with her diagnosis, and little by little, her memories fade away.
I could not put this book down — I finished it the same day I started it. It’s so tragic, but also beautiful at the same time. What would you do if you were diagnosed? What would you do if you did genetic testing and found out you would get it someday? What would you do if it were your spouse or parent? This book gave me new compassion for people living with Alzheimer’s — both victims and their loved ones. Lisa Genova herself is a neurologist, and I see she’s gone on to write more books about neurological conditions. I might check them out. Also, this book was turned into a movie and Julianne Moore won a long-overdue Oscar for her role as Alice. Category: a self-published book (the book was originally self-published and was later picked up by a publisher).
Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher (2014) — When you work in academia, you have a lot of letters to write — letters of recommendation, emails to your department chair, messages to both your ex-wife and former mistress apologizing for doing them both wrong. Jason Fitger is a creative writing professor at a middling university facing budget cuts across the board, and the story is told in witty, snarky, passive aggressive, curmudgeonly letters. The narrator is both unreliable and unlikable, but you can’t resist rooting for him, especially when he’s advocating on behalf of his best students.
This book reminded me so much of a history teacher I had in high school who took every opportunity to write overly flowery letters for the most mundane of subjects. (Yes, RMHS folks, it’s exactly who you think, and it was further hammered home when he uttered a “Huzzah!”). The letters are fun and I laughed continuously. If you work in academia, I think you’ll especially love this book. But more than anything, it’s a romance — a great love letter to language. Jason take every opportunity possible to dance joyfully with the written word. We should all celebrate that. Category: an epistolary novel or collection of letters.
George by Alex Gino (2015) — Everyone thinks that George is a boy — but she knows that she’s a girl. She’s never felt like a boy in her life. She reads girls’ magazines in secret, wanting to be just like them someday. George wants to play Charlotte in the school production of Charlotte’s Web, but her teacher won’t let her because she thinks George is a boy. This makes George upset because she knows if she plays Charlotte, her mother will realize who she really is. But George and her best friend Kelly have a plan, and soon George learns to soar like the girl she truly is — a girl named Melissa.
This is such a sweet and heartfelt book. I want everyone who has an eight-year-old in their life to read them this book. It shows you what it feels like to grow up trans — and what it means to be a good friend. I wanted to hug George and his friend Kelly so many times. I’ve always believed in the power of literature to instill empathy and compassion, and this book will do that for kids and adults alike. Category: a children’s or middle grade book (not YA) that has won a diversity award since 2009.
You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain by Phoebe Robinson (2016) — In this collection of essays, Phoebe Robinson shares her thoughts on being a black woman in comedy today. From her love of U2 to adorable advice for her new biracial niece (she tells her how to be black, and you’ll laugh when you see who she got to teach her how to be white!), her stories will keep you captivated.
I really enjoyed this book — it was a perfect casual beach read while I was in Holbox. I especially loved the parts she wrote about behind the scenes in film and TV. One reason why humor memoirs by black authors aren’t read as much is because non-black readers don’t think they’ll be able to relate to them. Well, you know what? If you’re not black, you’re going to learn about a lot of things you’ve never had to think about before. Many of them about black hair. That being said, this book is for everyone, you will relate to it, and it will make you laugh. Category: a humor book.
New Erotica for Feminists by Caitlin Kunkel, Brooke Preston, Fiona Taylor, and Carrie Wittmer (2018) — What do feminists TRULY want? This book imagines it with wild hilarity. Maybe it’s the hot firefighter who saves all your animals — then goes back in and saves your first edition of Judy Blume’s Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. Maybe it’s going on a date with a scientists who tells you how his team created a serum to make Ruth Bader Ginsburg immortal. This book is a collection of vignettes about just how good life could be.
I got this from my friend Amelia in our book club’s Secret Santa. I hinted that I wanted a feminist book and she told me this was the funniest one she could find. It’s a quick read, as a collection of scenes more than stories, but it’s a conversation piece to keep out on your coffee table. Category: a book published prior to January 1, 2019, with fewer than 100 reviews on Goodreads.
Long Black Veil by Jennifer Finney Boylan (2018) — In 1980, six college friends enter Philadelphia’s abandoned Eastern State Penitentiary at night; one of them disappears and is never seen again. Decades later, the body finally turns up, and one of them is arrested. The only person who can give an alibi to her arrested friend is Judith — formerly Quentin. In the late 1980s, she realized she was trans, faked her own death, transitioned, and lived a quiet life in Maine where nobody knew about her past. Judith realizes she needs to come out to the world in order to clear her friend’s name.
I’m pretty mixed on this novel overall, the first novel I’ve read by a trans author (though George ‘s author, Alex Gino, identifies as nonbinary). There were action-packed parts where I was so drawn into it, I couldn’t put the book down. And there were parts that made me cringe. Strangely, the worst parts were those written from the point of view of Judith. It was treacly and terrible and so hard to believe. Overall, I felt like the book didn’t deliver overall. Category: a novel by a trans or nonbinary author.
Motherland Fatherland Homelandsexuals by Patricia Lockwood (2014) — Last year I read and loved Patricia Lockwood’s memoir Priestdaddy, about growing up with a priest for a father. This year, I decided to check out the poetry that made her famous. It’s bizarre, and graphic, and wild. Personally, not my cup of tea, but with one big exception: “Rape Joke.” If you can find Patricia Lockwood’s poem “Rape Joke” anywhere, you should go and read it right now. That one poem hit me harder than anything else I read this month. Category: a collection of poetry published since 2014.
Folk-lore and Legends: North American Indian by Anonymous (1890) — Before I joined the library, I wanted to see what folklore was available for free on Kindle, and finding categories from all over the world, decided to focus on Native American literature, as I haven’t read much of it. A few of these stories were entertaining; most of them did nothing for me. What struck me the most was how misogynistic so many of the stories were. (Though it did make me laugh when a guy became invisible to his wife and he tried to get her attention by yelling in her ear, “I’m hungry!”) Category: a book of mythology or folklore.
Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters (2016) — In this alternative history novel, it’s the present day but the Civil War never happened and slavery never ended. Victor is a former slave and bounty hunter, hunting down escaped slaves for the government in exchange for his freedom. Victor discovers a network called “Underground Airlines” and a trail sends him off into the Hard Four, the remaining states where slavery is legal.
I’m disappointed in myself for reading this book. Why is it so radical to reimagine life under slavery today, as if black people aren’t already second-class citizens? (Roxane Gay wrote about this issue brilliantly, speaking about HBO’s new series with a similar premise.) Even worse, this was written from the point of view of a black person by a white person, and one whom I suspect doesn’t actually spend time with any black people. Beyond that, the plot was cluttered, there was zero character development, and it was overall a very unsatisfying read. Skip this one. Read Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad instead. Category: an alternate history novel.
Coming Up in February 2019
More winter, more snow, more staying inside as much as humanly possible. Ha!
I will be heading down to Maryland for a few days to speak at a conference: CCRA PowerSolutions. This is a travel industry conference for agents and suppliers and I’ll be speaking on a panel about working with influencers. I had never heard of this conference before, but it sounded like an interesting opportunity. We’ll see how it goes.
Beyond that, there’s a chance something could pop up last minute — and I’d welcome that. It’s been hovering below freezing in New York (sorry it’s been much worse for you, midwestern friends!) and I would relish the chance to go somewhere warmer.
In Memoriam
We lost a beautiful soul this month. Meruschka Govender, the South African blogger known as Mzansi Girl, passed away following a battle with cancer.
I met Meruschka in Cape Town when we were working on a campaign together. Right away I was struck by her bubbliness, her friendliness, and her huge personality. She brought laughter everywhere she went, she was kind enough to check in on her blogger friends years after we had seen each other last, and she was a tireless advocate for South Africa travel. I never heard her say a bad word about anyone.
You could throw Meruschka into any room and soon everybody would be laughing.
“One of the first things people notice about me is my laugh, it’s deep, hearty and loud AF 😂 As a teenager, I was embarrassed about it, it’s definitely not a cute giggle and often makes me cry (in the best way). As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to love my laugh, it’s is one of my defining features – unique and distinctively me. Yes, I’m loud, and I love life, get over it! Life is seriously better when you’re laughing.”
So, of course, I’m a diehard fan of the city. It holds a special place in my hearyt.
Boston is a historic city with roots that stretch back to the founding of the country. To me, Boston is more a collection of small towns than a big metropolis city like LA or NYC or Miami. We’re really just a bunch of townies. (All those Boston based movies that show hardcode neighborhood allegiance are spot on!)
As a city with a lot of students, recent graduates, and young people, Boston is a relatively cheap place to visit as it has a lot of free things to see and do.
From music events to museums to walking tours to beer tours to parks and beaches, there are many ways to save during your visit.
Here’s a list of 27 free things to do and see in Boston!
Free Things to See and Do in Boston
1. Walk the Freedom Trail
Established in 1951, The Freedom Trail covers 16 historical sites and stretches 2.5 miles. This red-bricked trail will teach you almost all you need to know about Boston’s history. You can download an audio podcast to accompany your walk or you can go on an organized tour led by one of Boston’s many historic characters. Expect to spend a few couple hours walking the trail and much, much longer if you enter every site along the trail.
It’s the best way to get a feel for the city and its history and hit a bunch of historical sites on the way. If you do one thing in Boston, do this.
2. Eat in Faneuil Hall
Everyone should eat in Quincy Market at least once. Grab your meal from one of the many restaurants in the colonnade, head outside to watch the people go by, and enjoy a street performer’s show. The hall has been a meeting place in the city since the 1740s, and many speeches were given here about American independence before the Revolutionary War. After you’re done eating, walk around and spend an afternoon here people-watching
4 S Market St, +1 617-523-1300, faneuilhallmarketplace.com. Open Monday-Saturday from 10am-9pm and Sunday from 12pm-7pm.
3. Lay Out in the Common
This is essentially Boston’s version of Central Park, with the Common dating back to 1634, making it the country’s oldest park. (Fun fact: There used to be a lot more fences surrounding the park, but in WWII the iron fences were taken and scrapped for the war effort.) Lie out, read a book, play some sports, or just relax. Wander around to the nearby Public Gardens, or sit by Frog Pond. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy your day without spending a dime. In the summer, you can even take in a free Shakespearean play.
4. Catch a Concert at the Hatch Shell
BRelax by the Charles River as artists play shows at the Hatch Shell. Built in 1928, It’s here you can see the famous Boston Pops play on July 4th as well as a plethora of free summertime concerts. Sometimes the Hatch Shell even plays movies at night.
47 David G Mugar Way, +1 617-626-1250, hatchshell.com. See the website for an up-to-date list of events.
5. Head to Castle Island
Castle Island is located in South Boston and is famous for the fort located on it, Fort Independence (The fort was actually used as the first state prison. Ironic, huh?). The 22-acre island (which is technically a peninsula) extends into the harbor and has excellent beaches as well as running trails that are popular with the locals. There’s a picnic area here, and you can explore the old fort for free. The place gets pretty busy on the weekends during the summer and you can often see school groups exploring the fort during the spring.
6. Take a Tour of Harvard
Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest university in America. Head to its home in Cambridge (Harvard Square Red Line train stop) and join a free tour to learn more about it. Learn about the university’s history, architecture, programs, and myths. When you’re finished, wander around the eclectic offerings of Harvard Square. There are a lot of good street musicians here. (Fun fact: Tracy Chapman got her start playing on the streets here.)
8. Free Beer Tours
Sam Adams, a major Boston brewery named after the famous statesman and Founding Father Samuel Adams, offers free tours. They occur midafternoon and depart every 45 minutes. You get a few free samples along the way, too. If you’re not over 21, don’t worry. You can still go and learn about how they make their beer and the history of the brewery. You just can’t sample it at the end.
30 Germania St, +1 617-368-5080, samueladams.com. Tours are available Monday-Thursday and on Saturdays from 10am-3pm. On Friday, tours are available between 10am-5:30pm.
9. Explore the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain
Over 260 acres of free public space is open here from sunrise to sunset. There are running trails, gardens, open lawns, and tons of flowers from all over the world. Relax among the plants and take a step back from the fast pace of the city. This place is much quieter than the Public Gardens and offers a bit more variety in plant life. They also have a huge Bonsai tree collection.
125 Arborway, +1 617-524-1718, arboretum.harvard.edu. Open daily from 7am-7pm.
10. Tour the Massachusetts State House
If history is your cup of tea, take a tour of the State House. You’ll learn about the building’s history, architecture, and how the state works. Built in 1798, this National Historic Landmark is well worth taking the time to see. Guided tours organized by volunteers and are available weekdays between 10am-3:30pm and last around 30-45 minutes (though you can also take a self-guided tour but its less fun).
24 Beacon St, +1 617-727-3676, malegislature.gov. Open weekdays from 8am-6pm, but tours are only available from 10am-3:30pm. Admission is free.
11. Climb the Bunker Hill Monument
The Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775 was one of the first major battles during the American Revolutionary War. While the British eventually took the field, the American’s wore the British forces down much more than was expected. After the battle, the British were much more cautious in their advance, which gave the American forces much more time to prepare for the coming war. The monument stands 221-feet, and you can climb to the top free of charge. There is also a nearby museum which is also free.
Monument Square, +1617-242-5601, nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/bhm.htm. Open daily from 9:30am-5pm. Admission is free.
12. Visit the USS Constitution
Commissioned in 1797 and named by George Washington, “Old Ironsides” is a heavy frigate that was used in the War of 1812 and later in the Civil War. It’s the oldest ship in the world that is still afloat, and its popularity has stopped it from being scrapped on multiple occasions. The ship is permanently docked in the harbor and free tours are offered every 30 minutes. It’s a wonderful way to get a sense of what life at sea was life over 200 years ago!
Charlestown Navy Yard, +1 617-426-1812, ussconstitutionmuseum.org. The ship is open daily from 10am-4pm (with extended hours in the summer) and the museum is open 10am-5pm (with extended hours in the summer as well). Admission is free, though the museum has a suggested donation of $10-15.
13. Take a Tour of MIT
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the most famous universities in the world, known for its expertise in engineering and research. The campus, located in Cambridge, is a mass of buildings that are worth exploring to get a sense of what campus life is like and to see some very interesting art and architecture. You can pick up a free map from the information office and take a self-guided tour to explore this historic campus.
77 Massachusetts Ave, +1 617-253-1000, mit.edu.
14. Explore the Black Heritage Trail
There are 14 sites located around Beacon Hill that make up this walking tour, covering important parts of African-American history. Massachusetts was the first state to declare slavery illegal (in 1783) and you can learn a lot about the history of slavery and the African-American experience by taking this tour. Free maps are available at the Abiel Smith School if you want to do a self-guided tour, though there are several companies that also arrange guided tours (with the map it’s very simple to do yourself though).
15. Go Stargazing
The Coit Observatory at Boston University offers free stargazing with telescopes and binoculars every Wednesday evening (weather permitting). It takes place outside (obviously) so just make sure to dress for the weather. There is limited space so you need to reserve your spot in advance.
725 Commonwealth Avenue, +1 617-353-2630, bu.edu/astronomy/events/public-open-night-at-the-observatory. Viewings are Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm in the autumn and winter and 8:30pm in the spring and summer.
16. Visit a Free Museum or Art Gallery
Boston has a lot of world-class galleries and museums, with many offering free entry. Here are a few museums and galleries that offer free entry on certain days:
Institute of Contemporary Art – This contemporary art gallery is free on Thursdays from 5pm-9pm.
Commonwealth Museum – This museum explores the history of Massachusetts and is free every day.
Harvard Museum of Natural History – This natural history museum has exhibitions showcasing dinosaurs, animals, and minerals (including meteorites). It’s free to residents of Massachusetts as well as Bank of America customers.
Harvard University Art Museums – Home to both modern and historical art exhibitions, these museums are free on Saturday from 10am-12pm.
Museum of Fine Arts – Home to over 450,000 pieces of fine art, this museum is free on Wednesdays after 4pm, as well as on certain holidays (Memorial Day, MLK Jr. Day).
Warren Anatomical Museum – A macabre museum with Civil War-era medical tools as well as some “medical mysteries” that is free every day.
17. Take a Free Walking Tour
While the city’s plethora of food tours, wine tours, and historical tours will cost money, both Free Tours by Foot and Strawberry Tours offer free walking tours around the city. They’re a great way to get oriented and see the major sights without breaking the bank. Just be sure to tip your guides!
18. The Lawn on D
This huge greenspace is relatively new to the city (when I was growing up, there was nothing in this area and you would never go there) and there are all sorts of free activities happening year round (check their website for the latest). There’s public seating, free Wi-Fi, art exhibitions, and a few games like table tennis and bocce.
+1 877-393-3393, signatureboston.com/lawn-on-d. Open daily from 7am-10pm (hours may vary for events). Admission is free.
19. Go Hiking in the Blue Hills
This park is a bit out of the way, but it’s definitely worth a visit (especially if you have access to a vehicle). The 7,000-acre park is home to over 100 miles of trails and offers some panoramic viewpoints if you feel like stretching your legs and going for a hike. There are also plenty of activities to keep you entertained, such as boating, fishing, skiing, and rock climbing (depending on the season). If you go on the weekends in the summer, get there early to beat the crowds.
20. See the Skinny House
Located at 44 Hull Street in the North End, this narrow house was built just after the Civil War when Joseph Euestus came home to find his brother had taken over more than half of the land they were meant to share. Seeing that his brother had built a huge mansion on the property, Joseph built a 4-story home to block his view. The odd building definitely stands out and it’s worth seeing with your own eyes. Even though the house is only 10-feet wide, it still sold for almost $1,000,000 USD in 2017!
21. Browse for Books at Brattle Book Shop
Located a stone throw away from the Boston Common, this family-run used bookstore is home to over 250,000 items. Books, postcards, maps — and lots of other odds and ends call this place home. It’s one of the oldest bookstores in the country, having originally opened in 1825! In addition to your standard used books, the store is also home to all sorts of first editions and antique books. If you’re a book lover like me, you can’t miss this place.
9 West Street, +1 617-542-0210, brattlebookshop.com. Open Monday-Saturday from 9am-5:30pm.
22. Visit Forest Hills Cemetery
This serene Victorian cemetery sits on almost 300 acres of land and is the resting place of a few noteworthy individuals, such as the playwright Eugene O’Neill and the poet E.E Cummings. In 2006, as part of an exhibition, sculptures, including miniature buildings, were added to the cemetery.
95 Forest Hills Avenue, +1 617-524-0128, foresthillscemetery.com. Gates open daily at 7am with closing hours varying by season (check the sign upon entry to see when the cemetery closes).
23. Stroll Along the Charles River
The Charles River Esplanade is a 17-mile stretch of along the banks of Boston’s Charles River. It’s a great place to go for a walk or a run, enjoy the view from a cafe, or even head out onto the water to canoe or kayak. On a sunny day, you’ll find tons of locals here.
If you’re traveling with kids, there’s a fun playground just west of the end of Storrow Drive that has a splash pad as well as playground equipment for both older and younger children.
24. Hit the Beach
If you’re visiting during the warm summer months, hit the beach to cool down. Winthrop and Revere Beach is located just under an hour from downtown (via public transportation) and is open all year round (lifeguards are on duty from June-September). Both are two of the most popular beaches in the area during the summer. Revere Beach is over 3-miles long and the easiest to get too. There are also tons of amazing beachfront places to eat here too. Go eat at the original Kelly’s. It’s a Boston institution.
Revere beach has more stores, restaurants, and is a lot bigger. Winthrop beach is a lot quieter.
25. Go Ice Skating
If you’re visiting Boston in the winter, there are tons of places around the city to go ice skating. There is a free rink at Harvard that is open to the public. You’ll still need to rent skates (which costs $5) but the skating itself is free. It’s a great way to enjoy Boston’s chilly winter months.
26. Tour the Custom House
Built in the 17th century, this is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. It was built right up against the water on reclaimed land and when the customs office moved a tower was added to the original foundation. Built in 1915, the tower addition made the Custom House the tallest building in the city. It’s owned by Marriott Hotels now, though you can still take a free tour (by appointment) to go up to the observation deck on the 26th floor.
3 McKinley Square, +1 617-310-6300, marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosch-marriott-vacation-club-pulse-at-custom-house-boston. Tours available from Sunday-Friday between 10am-4pm. Tours are free though they are by appointment only.
27. Walk the Irish Heritage Trail
Americans of Irish descent form the largest single ethnic group in Boston (over 20% of the people in Massachusetts claim they have Irish ancestry). This historic free walking trail will take you around the city focusing on contributions made by the city’s thriving Irish community. There are 16 sites along this 3-mile walk which you can visit consecutively or in tandem with one of the city’s other historic walks.
For a map and details about the trail, visit irishheritagetrail.com.
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Whether you’re here for the history, the food, the sports, or something else, Boston has a lot of things to do for free that will fill your entire visit and help you save a ton of money in Boston.
Book Your Trip to Boston: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. My favorite place to stay is:
HI Boston – This hostel is in a great location, has its own coffee bar with lots of space to hang out, and also has female-only dorms. It’s really secure and the staff are great too. It’s the best hostel in town!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!
Looking for more information on visiting Boston?
Check out my in-depth destination guide to Boston with more tips on what to see, do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!
As a follow-up to my previous essays on visualization, in this article I will share select photographs made on film with a detailed description of the thought process, the choice of tools, and technical considerations that were involved. I have chosen two starkly different photographs (both landscapes) to discuss. I hope that these photos with the accompanying narrative will prove interesting and helpful to beginning film photographers and perhaps guide more experienced photographers in advanced techniques and approaches. Of note, Photography Life contributors John Bosley, Laura Murray and Vaibhav Tripathi have previously written excellent essays on film photography that may also be of interest.
from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/visualization-and-film-photography
Panasonic just announced its first ever full-frame mirrorless cameras, the 24 megapixel S1 and 47 megapixel S1R. These are also the first Panasonic cameras to use Leica’s L mount, thanks to the Panasonic/Leica/Sigma L-mount alliance announced last year. The S1 launches at a price of $2500, while the S1R is $3700. Panasonic also announced three lenses alongside the cameras, including a kit 24-105mm f/4. Below, we cover everything you need to know.
from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/news/panasonic-s1-and-s1r-announcement
Although macro photography is very accessible – no exotic destinations or expensive gear required – it is often tricky to choose the best camera settings for macro work. If you want sharp, well-exposed photos, you’ll have to push your camera system to its limits. Luckily, this guide covers everything you need to know about camera settings for macro photography, including camera mode, aperture, flash, shutter speed, ISO, and focusing, plus two detailed checklists at the end.
from Photography Life https://photographylife.com/best-camera-settings-for-macro-photography
